How to Counter Hybrid Threats in Europe?
IED President Enrico Borghi at the Belgrade Security Congress
Belgrade, Serbia, 18 November 2025
21.11.2025
The Belgrade Security Conference (BSC) is an environment for stimulating and engaging discussions on the critical security and foreign policy challenges shaping the Western Balkan region and the wider international landscape. The BSC provides space for brave thinking and honest dialogue to policymakers, incumbent and former officials, diplomats, representatives of international organisations, think-tankers, journalists, academics, activists, and young professionals. The conference 2025 took place on November 17-19. The President of the IED Enrico Borghi was invited as a participant on the panel:
Unarmed in the Unseen War: How to Counter Hybrid Threats in Europe?
Eastern and southeastern Europe today face mounting pressure from Russian hybrid warfare. Drone and missile incursions threaten critical infrastructure and civilian lives. Disinformation campaigns erode trust in institutions, polarise societies, and weaken democratic resilience. Electoral meddling demonstrates Russia’s intent to shape political outcomes far beyond its borders. Together, these tactics contribute to an atmosphere where the region appears to stand on the brink of war.
Cognitive warfare, hybrid interference, and the dangers of power operations hidden behind so-called "surveillance capitalism": these were the central themes addressed by IED President Enrico Borghi during the panel "Unarmed in the Unseen War: How to Counter Hybrid Threats in Europe?”. The panel examined how these threats intersect with Europe’s internal vulnerabilities and divisions, highlighting the risks for neighbouring countries and for the continent’s overall security architecture. It explored the extent to which hybrid operations destabilise governments, undermine Euro-Atlantic integration, and fuel authoritarian tendencies. At the same time, it addressed the urgent question of how European and transatlantic actors can mount a coordinated and credible response.
At the heart of the debate: how to counter the lethal mix of cyber attacks, disinformation, propaganda, and psychological operations aimed at deconstructing democracies.
President Borghi highlighted how the Belgrade discussion came at a strategic moment for Italy, which is seeking to strengthen its role in the Mediterranean as a hub for Euro-Atlantic cooperation. He also stressed Italy's aim to strengthen the national institutional framework and the parliamentary initiatives against foreign interference. President Enrico Borghi mentioned the recent meeting of the Italian Supreme Defense Council, where for the first time the topic of hybrid warfare was the focus of discussion at the highest level of Italy's defense executive.
Photos: © Belgrade Security Conference
